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Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) — 15 December-21 December 2010


Klyuchevskoy

Smithsonian Institution / US Geological Survey
Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 15 December-21 December 2010
Managing Editor: Sally Sennert.

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 2010. Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 15 December-21 December 2010. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.

Weekly Report (15 December-21 December 2010)

Klyuchevskoy

Russia

56.056°N, 160.642°E; summit elev. 4754 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


KVERT reported that during 10-17 December seismic activity at Kliuchevskoi did not exceed background levels. Steam-and-gas emissions were observed during 10-13 December. Satellite imagery showed a weak thermal anomaly over the crater on 11 and 12 December. The Aviation Color Code level was lowered to Yellow.

The Tokyo VAAC reported that on 20 December a possible eruption detected in satellite imagery produced a plume that rose to an altitude of 6.7 km (22,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted N.

Geological Summary. Klyuchevskoy (also spelled Kliuchevskoi) is Kamchatka's highest and most active volcano. Since its origin about 6000 years ago, the beautifully symmetrical, 4835-m-high basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. It rises above a saddle NE of sharp-peaked Kamen volcano and lies SE of the broad Ushkovsky massif. More than 100 flank eruptions have occurred during the past roughly 3000 years, with most lateral craters and cones occurring along radial fissures between the unconfined NE-to-SE flanks of the conical volcano between 500 m and 3600 m elevation. The morphology of the 700-m-wide summit crater has been frequently modified by historical eruptions, which have been recorded since the late-17th century. Historical eruptions have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have also included numerous major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters.

Sources: Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)